Meet a 15-Year-Old (Local) Pop Star

His first guitar was a gift from an uncle that sat in a closet collecting dust. "I was really little, and I never even picked it up," Zack Biss said.

It would be years before he started to develop his natural gift for playing music. Now at the ripe old age of 15, Zack is a well-known musician in the Tampa Bay area, who regularly plays gigs in downtown venues in St. Petersburg. He will be an opening act at First Night St. Pete on Dec. 31.

Even though this Whiz Kid is a wunderkind when it comes to singing and playing the guitar, Zack is not that different from other kids his age.

Growing up in St. Petersburg, he took karate and was hooked on the popular video game, Rock Band.

The difference between Zach and other Rock Band players was that he was good at it – really good at playing the air guitar.

It takes the unconditional love of a parent to recognize the inherent musical abilities in a child from his or her virtuosity at a video game. Jerry Biss saw just that.

The elder Biss challenged his boy to pick up a real guitar. Zack was smittened. t

"I started taking lessons and I would practice for hours on end," said Zack. Of course, natural talent only shines through when there is hard work behind it.

At the beginning, Zack said that learning and practice could be hard. But his love for the craft outweighed the obstacles. His teacher was more than impressed.

"It had only been a few weeks and his guitar instructor told me, 'Man, you have got to buy him a real guitar, he has some potential,'" said Jerry Biss.

Considering he just started learning a few years ago, Zack's current position speaks volumes of his dedication to the music. 

He recorded a CD of his own in January 2011. Zack's music is available for purchase on his Facebook page. He also has his own YouTube channel, where fans can watch Zack perform some of his favorites. Creative Loafing recently recognized the boy's talents in its "20 Under 25" Awards.

Music has become more than just a hobby. Zack hopes to make it a career some day. "Right now, all I want to do is music," said Zack. "My goal is to go to college in Nashville." As an A student at , Zach is well on his way.

Zack also loves to play hockey and will be awarded his Black Belt in karate soon.

His next gig is coming right up. Zack plays at the World of Beer on 4th Street (5226 4th St. N) on Monday, Dec. 26th.